Lessons learnt from developments in Bai Bang and Vietnam

Mats Sandewall

When do farmers invest in tree planting ?

Tenure securitySustainable market opportunitiesFinancial and political stabilityHouseholds with capacity to investPolicy that favors investmentsInstitutions and organisation in placeSufficient infrastructureGood examplesAccess to new knowledge and technology

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Rapid land use and livelihoods changes followed the economic and institutional reforms in Vietnam and forest policy changes 1987-93.

Reforestation by households first occurred in areas around Bai Bang, later in other parts of Vietnam

Land Use Trends in Doan Hung District, Ca Dinh Commune, Village No 5

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10

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60

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2006

Year

Per

cen

t o

f la

nd

are

a

Forest plantation Agriculture crops Tea

Natural forest Other

The forest cover in Vietnam has expanded greatly 1990 - 2010 (FAO), mostly through forest plantation

Total forest area (FAO/FRA): 1990: 9.4 Mha 2010: 13.8 Mha

Planted forest area 1990: 1.0 Mha 2010: 3.5 Mha

Annual change: 6.5 %

Forest Area

No forest land0.01-0.25 ha 0.26-0.50 ha 0.51-0.75 ha 0.76-1.00 ha 1.01-2.50 ha

2.50-5.00 ha

No of households

35 hh (32%) 12 hh (11%)

29 hh (27%) 13 hh (12%) 11 hh (10%) 6 hh (6%) 2 hh (2%)

Many households have very small plots (Doan Hung site)

Forestry contributes 10-20% of households’ cash incomes in studied villages

Different patterns for different income categories, ”Less poor” and middle income farmers have

(relatively) benefitted most from the plantation

Although the landuse transformation into forest in Vietnam has been effective, the current forest management is not equally good

Policy focus has been more on expanding the forest area than promoting management of the area established

While some areas are producing well in terms of wood and commodities many of the plantations are producing very modestly.

Some areas have market access but many areas do not. Households (esp the poor) cut stands early in need for immediate

cash return. Rotation for many Acacia plantations is 3-5 years. Little species diversity (Acacia for wood chips now dominating). Households do not earn so much and biodiversity declining.

A few tree species dominate, for some species like pine, timber/wood is not the only product (Quang Ninh 2013)

Observations in Guang Xi - a forest industry region in Southern ChinaObservations in Guang Xi - a forest industry region in Southern ChinaMany poor households with low

forest productivity, some rich ones with capacity to invest

Young people move from rural to urban areas. A few return and invest. Increasing income gaps.

Land acquisition of companies and industries through local government bureaucracy - farmers discontent.

Pride (surprise) that previously barren land can be reforested.

Economic growth is prioritised ahead of environmental concern. Farmers worried about water supply/quality and biodiversity in connection with extensive Eucalyptus plantation.

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10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Water, road

Shrimp, cashcrops

Sugar cane

Kassawa,agricrops

Rice paddy

Bareland/Shrubs/scattered treesNatural forest

Eucyliptus

Pine/Conifers

Why farmers plant trees (Bahar Dar, Ethiopia)

Declining agriculture productionHigh subsistence and market

demand to produce trees for saleImproved policy environmentManagement aspects

Lessons learned

Lessons learned from Bai Bang and Vietnam What is esp. important for societal development in forestry projects?

Local people/farmers matter Government policies /regulatory framework matter Market matters Aid and external input matters (when long term)

Every country situation is unique. At the same time trends are often similar.

Aims and priorites in development have varied …. over time and among stakeholders

1975

1985

1995

2005

2013

2025 ?